TERENCE Crawford said all week that he had made a career of proving doubters wrong, and Saturday night (Sunday, Sept. 14, 2005, PH time) he did it again.
Crawford became the first male boxer to unify three division titles when he outpointed Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision before a record crowd of 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Judges Tim Cheatham and Max DeLuca scored the bout 115-113 and Steve Weisfeld 116-112 for Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs).
The 37-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska, who moved up two weight classes to meet Alvarez, dropped to a knee before the scorecards were read and wept when his victory was confirmed.
“I know what I’m capable of,” Crawford said. “It’s not a surprise. It’s a surprise to y’all because you all didn’t believe in me.”
Crawford gradually won over the largely pro-Alvarez crowd, with chants of “Crawford” echoing in the late rounds. Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs), a 35-year-old Mexican star and the -185 favorite, suffered his first defeat since losing to Dmitrii Bivol in 2022.
“We knew Crawford is a great fighter,” Alvarez said. “I did what I was supposed to do. I trained really hard. He deserved all the credit. I tried my best tonight and I couldn’t figure out the style. He had everything.”
The matchup was the first boxing event staged at Allegiant Stadium and shattered attendance and gate records for Las Vegas fights.
The $47.23 million gross surpassed the mark set in 1982 when Larry Holmes stopped Gerry Cooney before 29,214 at Caesars Palace. It also topped the stadium’s previous record crowd of 63,969, set at a USC–LSU football game last year.
Celebrities including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., Thomas Hearns, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sofia Vergara, Michael J. Fox, Charlize Theron, Dave Chappelle, Tracy Morgan and Stephen A. Smith were among those in attendance.
The bout was streamed globally on Netflix, the first boxing card under a collaboration between UFC President Dana White and Saudi-backed Riyadh Season. The UFC recently struck a seven-year deal with Paramount to place events on streaming instead of pay-per-view.
The fight was tactical through eight rounds, with Crawford showing superior speed and timing. “I was stronger,” Crawford said. “I punched harder.” He seized control in the ninth after a head clash caused a brief pause.
That momentum held. “I felt like I was in control,” Crawford said. “I think he was trying to figure me out.”
In the co-main event, unbeaten Irish fighter Callum Walsh (15-0, 11 KOs) routed Fernando Vargas Jr. (17-1, 15 KOs) by scores of 99-91, 99-91 and 100-90. Vargas’ father, Fernando Vargas Sr., is a former IBF, IBA and WBC super-welterweight champion.
WBC interim super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) of France retained his belt with a draw against Guatemala’s Lester Martinez (19-0-1, 16 KOs). The judges were split: 97-93 for Martinez, 96-94 for Mbilli, and 95-95 even. / From the wires